Patient Rights and Responsibilities

The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry recognizes the importance of developing a relationship of mutual trust between the patient, the student and the teaching faculty as dental care providers. Please review the following rights and responsibilities to ensure successful, timely and satisfying dental care is given and received.

Patient's Rights

The patient has the right to receive treatment from students, faculty and staff that is considerate of the patient's dental needs, respectful of their dignity, and mindful of the confidentiality that rightfully exists between the patient and the OU College of Dentistry.

The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care and completion of treatment in a timely manner upon acceptance and assignment to a student.

The patient has the right to emergency care in accordance with the conditions of their acceptance as a patient.

The patient has the right to be given a clear and understandable explanation of the treatment recommended sufficient to obtain an informed consent including alternatives to treatment, benefits and risks (if any) of recommended and alternative treatment, and the consequences of refusing treatment.

The patient has the right to refuse treatment. However, upon rejection, the OU College of Dentistry reserves the right to discontinue the patient's treatment in the program if such alternative care is inconsistent or incompatible with the College's mission or treatment philosophy.

The patient has the right to be fully advised in advance of the expected cost (estimated) of the total treatment planned and of the treatment to be rendered at each scheduled appointment.

The patient has the right to know the rules of the OU College of Dentistry and the regulations that apply to his or her conduct as a patient.

The patient has the right to receive treatment that always meets or exceeds the profession's standard of care.

Patient Responsibilities

The patient shall provide, to the best of their knowlege, accurate and complete information about present conditions, past illnesses, hospitizations, medications and other matters pertaining to the patient's health. It is also teh patient's responsibility to report any changes in the condition of their health to the student and supervising faculty.

The patient is responsible for following any recommended post treatment instructions given by the student, on behalf of the supervising faculty including folow-up visits.

The patient is responsible for the consequences of their actions in refusing treatment or in failing to follow post-treatment instructions provided by the student on behalf of the supervising faculty.

The patient is responsible for keeping scheduled appointments, and when unable to do so for any reason, to notify the student of the need to reschedule.

The patient (or legally responsbile party) is responsible for assuming the financial obligation is fulfilled promptly.

The patient is responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients, staff, students and faculty of the OU College of Dentistry.

The patient should expect the OU College of Dentistry to provide on that treatment which supervising faculty deems to be appropriate given the information provided and circumstances observed.